Fat-Soluble vs Water-Soluble Vitamins – What’s the Scoop?

While all vitamins are essential for our bodies, you may not know that there are two different categories of vitamins. Some vitamins are water-soluble, and others are fat-soluble. While they have similarities in being vitamins, fat- and water-soluble vitamins have different characteristics in how they are used and stored in the body. These types of vitamins are equally important for our bodies – you need both!

What are fat-soluble vitamins?

Fat-soluble vitamins are vitamins that are absorbed and stored along with fats in the body. There are four fat-soluble vitamins: A, D, E and K.

What is the function of fat-soluble vitamins?

Fat-soluble vitamins have a variety of roles in our bodies. Here’s a list of the fat-soluble vitamins and what they do:

• Vitamin A – Vitamin A helps to support skin health and provides eye support.* You can find vitamin A in fruits and vegetables like carrots, mangos and winter squash, as well as in milk, cheese and eggs.
• Vitamin D – Vitamin D provides bone, muscle and immune support.* You can find vitamin D in some fish like trout and salmon, Vitamin D fortified milks and eggs.
• Vitamin E – Vitamin E is an antioxidant that helps fights free radicals.* Vitamin E is found in vegetable oils, nuts, and vegetables like spinach and broccoli.
• Vitamin K – Vitamin K supports bone and cardiovascular health.* Vitamin K is found in dark leafy greens like collards, kale and spinach, beans and nuts.

Where are fat-soluble vitamins stored?

Your body stores fat-soluble vitamins in your liver, muscles, and body fat, kind of like a savings account, and your body holds onto the extra amounts that you’ve consumed. By storing the excess, your body has them ready whenever you need them.

Because our bodies are able to store fat-soluble vitamins, they are not as easily excreted as water-soluble vitamins. So, in general, it’s a good idea to be careful not to take too much. However, it is difficult to get too much of fat-soluble vitamins through food alone. If you have concerns about how much you are taking, check in with your health care provider.

What are water-soluble vitamins?

Like the name suggests, water-soluble vitamins are dissolved in water and transported via your bloodstream throughout your body. There are several water-soluble vitamins, including:

• B vitamins – there are eight different B vitamins including thiamin (B1), riboflavin (B2), niacin (B3), pantothenic acid (B5), vitamin B6 (pyridoxine), biotin (B7), folate (B9), and vitamin B12 (cobalamin). B vitamins are involved in many processes of the body, but are mostly known for their role in energy metabolism.* B vitamins are found in several different foods, ranging from meat, fish to fruits and vegetables, and enriched grains. Learn more about all of the B vitamins in our article What are B vitamins & Why They are Important?
• Vitamin C – Vitamin C is an antioxidant and is found in many different fruits and vegetables like strawberries, baked potatoes, orange juice and red peppers. It has several important functions in the body including immune system support and collagen formation.*

Where are water-soluble vitamins stored?

In general, water-soluble vitamins are not stored in the body, except vitamin B12 which can be stored in the liver. They are transported throughout your body via the bloodstream and are flushed out in urine. Because they can’t be stored like fat-soluble vitamins, it’s important to consume the B vitamins and vitamin C daily.

vitafusion offers gummy vitamins so you get the fat- and water-soluble vitamins you need!

Vitafusion™ multivitamin gummies contain both water-soluble and fat-soluble vitamins – providing a mix of key nutrients for your body. These include:

• MultiVites - delicious multivitamin gummies providing essential vitamins, minerals and yummy fruit flavors to support everyday health.*
• Women’s Multivitamin - provides vitamins and minerals essential to women’s health including vitamins A, C, D and several B vitamins for energy metabolism.*
• Men’s Multivitamin - formulated to address the health needs of men with B vitamins for energy metabolism*, Vitamin D for muscle support*, and delicious fruit flavors.
• Women’s Sugar Free Multi – the benefits of a multivitamin formulated for women in a sugar-free gummy.
• Prenatal – the multivitamin crafted for those who are thinking about getting pregnant or those who already are, including key nutrients like folate and omega-3 fatty acids sourced from fish oil.

Get Your Daily Dose and Let Your Body Do the Rest!

While it’s interesting to understand the differences between water and fat-soluble vitamins, you don’t have to do anything different when you consume them. Your body knows how to best use all vitamins, whether they are fat or water-soluble. Consuming a variety of foods, including fruits and vegetables, nuts and seeds, whole grains and lean meats helps your body get all of the nutrients you need – whether it’s a fat-soluble vitamin, water-soluble vitamin, or mineral. And if you want a little extra support, there are many vitafusion gummy multivitamins that offer a variety of both fat and water-soluble vitamins. There’s one for everyone so you can do anything!

Brought to you by the vitafusion™ nutrition experts.